cdiiofiflii c cmm , • ? The Futility Of Black Leadership r If futilities is what local black leaders seek, they are guaranteed to achieve it with overwhelming suc cess. It is asinine for someone to bfelieve that he could effect the outcome of the next week’s bond referendum one way or another without an organization that is supported by the masses of the black community. But, if the publicized spokesmen for the black race in the Charlotte area are serious about their relative value in the leadership position, they must first understand their roles within the larger context of com munity economic development. Black leaders alone cannot alle viate the problems confronting the masses of black people. If we consi der that it is the uneconomic envir onment of our communities which stunts our growth and stifles our potentials, we would have a clearer understanding that the roles of those who choose to lead us in a no-win proposition if they continue their piece-meal and one-dimensional ap proach to the problem of advance ment of those they tend to lead. In short itis naive to believe that a black leader can resolve in a few minutes the problems that a govern ment has taken more than 200 years to create. : > V • We must accept the implications ^ of our plight. ..The Post does not intend, indeed would not dare attempt, to present the specific problems confronting all groups, interests and enterprises in the black communities. We do, how ever, feel that each leader should address himself to those specifics in his individual area of expertise. * • • It is also our belief that the mino- I rity population should not stand by I while the white majority does the 3 planning and revitalization for our E future. Blacks should have a voice in v the planning of their own future. 1 > .. Altering this situation requires an expanded commitment from the pe ople and their leaders. That com mitment must include recognition of the need for a broad-based com munity economic development pro gram, encompassing jobs, housing " and business development and im proved educational facilities. This group could then mobilize itself to support of those members of the political community who will enact the vital legislations and appropri ations. ..Collectively, it could also defeat those elected officials who are not responsive to their program. What Is A Municipal Bond? ■ While many people are fussing back and forth as to the pros and cons of the bond referendum, the Post was surprised to find out that few people know what a bond is. Therefore, we are taking the time to clarify the question What Is A Bond? . A bond is a certificate of a loan made to the issuer of the bond. Basically it is an I.O.U. with each certificate generally carrying a face value of $1,000. A bond promises to pay a specified interest rate for a specified time period, plus the face value at maturity. A municipal bond is simply a loan certificate issued by a city, in this case Charlotte. What is happening here is the city of Charlotte needs money to implement several prog rams that it deems necessary for the well being of its citizenry. The city has determined that a cost of $59.5 million is necessary to pull off the program. Therefore, it can issue 59,500 bonds at $1,000 face value to .. This means that people, consider ed investors, companies, banks, and what have ydh will purchase these certificates from the city thereby creating the necessary funds. How ever, these certificates must repay the money back to the certificate holders. Furthermore, the city agre es to pay so much money (interest) for the usage of the money. . Bonds are given a grade such as AAA, A, B, etc., which indicates the ability of the bond issuer to pay back the money at the end of the designa ted period. AAA is the highest grade and Charlotte carries an excellent rating to receive such a grade. On Tuesday, April 8, 1975 we are going to the polls to vote whether or not to give the city of Charlotte the right to issue these bonds. A vote of “yes” will also allow the city to levy taxes against you as a means of paying back the face value amount and the interest of these certificates. This is not to say that the referen dum is not worth paying for, but rather that you will pay for it. The gei me money. choice is still yours. Something On Your Mind? n_..I. . .. ouiucuiu^ uii juur muiu is inc name of a column devoted to you-the young at heart reader of this news paper-as long as it relates in some way to young people, regardless of age. It will be written by you arid about whatever is on your mind! So, if you have something to say.... WRITE ON! Or any other subject you want to write about. Remember it’s your column. Your article should be at least 250 words, type-written and double space preferred. Include your name, age, school, and a clear photo, and send It to the Editor, Charlotte Post Newspaper, Post Office Box 97, Charlotte. N. C. 28230. THE CHARLOTTE FOS1 “THE PEOPLES NEWSPAPER” Established 1918 By A.M. Houston Published Every Thursday By The Charlotte Post Publishing Co., Inc. 9139 Trinity Road - Charlotte, N.C. 28216 Telephones (704 ) 392-1306 - 392-1307 Circulation 11,000 Bill Johnson.Editor - Publisher Gerald O. Johnson.Business Manager Robert L. Johnson, ./..Circulation Manager Letter lo Lditor Dear Sir: ..Speaking for myself I am very much In favor of the Bond referendum. Plane* and buses are my means of travel. And I shall do and say all in my power to get the isaue passed. Then who know'a I might get able to buy a bicycle some day. . .In the mean time I ahall do all I can to move some of the city councllmen. I wrote the next day after Mr. Alex ander's election to the State Senate for consideration for the seat made vacant bv his election. They discriminated against me because I am colored, and never let the public know that I was Inter ested. I have nothing against Mr. Gantt, but his appoint ment was not done In a demo cratic manner. . So I am going all out for the Bond referendum. I’ve spoken to several small groups, but I am against the way the city council discriminates against Its cltixens because of race. Rev. Maggie L. Nicholson I22S S. Caldwell Street Charlotte. N. C. 28203 Second Class Postage Paid $t Charlotte, N.C. under the Act of March 3,1878 Member National Newspaoer Publishers Association National Advertising Representative Amalgamated Publishers. Inc. 45 W. 5th, Suite 1403 2400 S. Michigan Ave. New York, N Y. 10036 Chicago. 111. 00616 489-1220 Calumet 5-0200 REJJEF | > I RELIEF ! CHECKS No Job Changes The Hard Hat Tune! =sasa!^9Bssi^BaB^asi^=sa9s On The Bond Referendum by Gerald Johnson .. The pro-bond referendum faction misconstrued my recent objection to the Black Political Caucus as giving support to the bond referendum. I have neither publicly advocated or opposed the referendum. However, after carefully studying the referen dum and after reviewing literature both pro and con about the referen dum I have decided to remain neu tral. ..My reasoning is based on good arguments from both sides. There fore, rather than suggesting to you on how to vote I have decided to enlighten you on situations which should be considered before you vote. I will cover each bond item both pro and con. AIRPORT The most controversial of all bond items is the Airport Bond, The current plans call for a new terminal being built, acquiring land for run ways, and utilities, paving, and lig hting of the expanded facility. The claim for needing the new facility is to be able to handle future air traffic and to have Charlotte play a more vital role in air traffic. Arnold Thompson Associates, Inc. in 1973. The total cost was approxima ted at $82 million. The city plans for 55 million to come from the bonds and $27 million from the Federal Government. Inflation has caused this figure to be quite inaccurate, a fact you will have to pay for. The rise in construction cost alone will push the figure to approximately 110 million. A vote of “yes” on the airport bond is also giving authori zation to the city to levy taxes in any amount sufficient to pay the prin cipal and the interest on the bond. This is where the under-estimation is made up. In Rummarlilna tho almirf luutJ The obvious benefit from this bond is the number of jobs that could be produced with its passage. The jobs produced through construction and the jobs produced by an expanded airport facility are direct consequ ences from the expansion. What is not so obvious are the indirect con- • sequences. A heavily industrallzed community is dependant upon con venient transportation for several reasons. The importance of moving goods to and fro, of having personnel transitory, and of being able to schedule meetings and business tra nsactions and have people arrive conveniently to them is not to be underminded. As Tar as attracting new industry to this area and there by creating more jobs it is extreme ly important that the excessiveness to the area be uppermost in every one’s mind. Hence effective air transportation is a mandatory re quirement for Charlotte’s economi cal growth. On the other hand there are num erous objections to the airport bond proposal. The black community has reason to be skeptical about the the question is simply do I want to pay directly for Charlotte’s econo mical growth? Your answer to this question should be the most influen tial input in determining your vote. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION The Charlotte Bus System is under consideration for purchase by the city. The Federal Government will pay 80 percent of this purchase price leaving the city with only 20 percent to pay. The proposal for this bond issue listed the following as a need for a sound bus system. ..(1) Rising Costs and Shortages of Gasoline .. (2) Environmental Effects of Auto Usage ..(3) Increasing Traffic Congestion on City Streets .. (4) Lack of Parking Spaces .. (5) To Be Able to serve the needs of a sector of people in Charlotte. All these are extremely good rea sons for having a sound mass transit system, but I question the ability of the city to provide a sound mass transit system. City ownership does not guarantee the soundness of any ming, Din ii aoes nave a tew advan tages. . .City ownership will allow you as a tax paying citizen of Charlotte to assist In the management of the bus system. With city ownership you will be able to petition your way to the city council and voice your opinions on the bus system. ..Also, special service programs such as the special rates for the elderly, and provisions for the hand icapped will be more readily imple mented. . .City ownership of the mass transit system should make it a people oriented and not a profit oriented See BOND on page 6 proposal and the Northwest Com munity Action Association has more than substantiated the reasons for this skepticism. As far as employ ment goes the reasons given by the NWCAA are unfounded. Employm ent figures at the airport show a 38 percent minority employment, a figure that is above the minority population of Charlotte. However, discrimination in pay. positions, and promotions might tend to be discri minatory—a point that I can not defend at the moment. .. But a serious objection to the bond is the overall cost. The figures that are being used were prepared by ^=S=S9BB99 TO BE EQUAL w;t • YKRXOX K. JORn.XX J#t. _ _« Illegal Aliens A Problem Cohcern about illegal aliens has grown, with the federal government seeking additional funds and powers to locate and deport them, and others seeking ways to help them cope with the exploitation and terror which is the lot of~the illegal alien. But the most striking element of the whole controversy is how little we know about the problem. We don’t even know how many illegal aliens there are in the country. Recent Congressional testimony by the Justice Department estimates the total at “between four and twelve million.’’ That’s quite a spread, and the wide divergence of those figures suggests guesswork. And we don’t know what their impact is on the job market. The government insists that illegal aliens take away jobs from legal residents and provide unfair competition for low-skilled jobs. There is some evidence that this may be so. Chicano or nuns on thp Wpst Dnnst hnvp armiM< that illegal aliens from Mexico are used exten sively in agricultural work, undercutting at tempts to unionize farm workers. And given the shortage of laborers’ jobs in cities, it is reason- • able to assume that jobs held by illegal aliens would otherwise go to citizens or to legal aliens. Here again, the unfair competition for scarce jobs hurts most those groups at the bottom of the economic ladder-blacks and browns. Some peo ple claim that this competition has been exagge rated—that illegal aliens are doing work no one else wants, a large claim to make at a time when nearly any job looks good to million of unem ployed workers. S -IH/J isi.-Wt .s.'j V ! . In fact, part of the reason such jobs go to illegal aliens is precisely because of their vulnerability to exploitation. Knowing that if a worker gives him trouble, he simply can call the Immigration agents and have him deported, many employers pay their illegals below-mini mum wages and force them to work longer hours in unsafe and unsanitary conditions. Thus the illegal alien is victimized, and lives in daily terror of being discovered and deported. He also must forego work-related benefits and the freedom enjoyed by others for fear of being found out. It’s not a pretty situation, from either side of the fence. The illegal alien is trying to escape terrible conditions is his homeland and, like others to build a new life through work. At the same time, there is the danger that his presence nere towers lapor standards and provides unfair job competition to the poorest segments of our society. And if our country's doors are to be wide open anyway, why bother having immigration laws at all, which provide for almost 400,000 legal immigrants each year. The situation is bad, with humane instincts and economic justice competing with each other, but [he posaible cures could be as bad as the problem Increased police surveillance, for example, could infringe on the rights of citizens and legal aliens. Dragnet tactics by immigration officers have in the past caught Mexican-Americans. Haitians, Dominicans, and Aslan